A special holiday on October 8 — Sergey Kapustnik: history, traditions, omens

Every year on October 8, Orthodox believers remember St. Sergius of Radonezh, the founder of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra. In the national calendar, the date is called Sergei Kapustnik, it is associated with the autumn harvest. In 2025, the holiday falls on a Wednesday. Read about its history, traditions and prohibitions in the Izvestia article.

What is the church holiday on October 8th

St. Sergius of Radonezh (in the world Bartholomew) was born in 1314 into the family of the Rostov boyars Cyril and Maria. He spent his childhood in Radonezh. According to legend, he found it difficult to read before meeting an elder monk who blessed the boy with a particle of prosphora (from the Greek word for "offering") - liturgical bread. From that moment on, his "bookish understanding" and his firm desire for monasticism began.

After the death of his parents, Bartholomew retired to the wilds of the Konchura River, where, together with his brother Stefan, he built a cell and a wooden church in the name of the Life-Giving Trinity, which marked the beginning of the future Trinity-Sergius Lavra.

At the age of 23, Bartholomew took vows with the name Sergius, after which he asceticized in complete solitude for about two years. In 1354, at the request of the assembled brethren, he became a priest and abbot — Metropolitan Alexy confirmed him in this ministry.

The monastery lived very modestly, but quickly became the center of spiritual life — students and pilgrims were attracted to Sergius. He was known as a peacemaker and mentor of princes. He called on the appanage rulers to agree, blessed Grand Duke Dmitry Ivanovich before the Battle of Kulikovo and sent monks Peresvet and Oslyab to a military campaign. The chronicles note the humility of the abbot — he rejected honors, including the "golden cross" for his efforts, and did not accept the offer to succeed the metropolitan.

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Sergius' spiritual authority was also reinforced by the miracles of revelation. In 1385, according to church tradition, the Most Holy Theotokos appeared to him with the Apostles Peter and John and promised him the protection of the monastery. The image of the Trinity as an ideal of unity of mind and conciliarity became the heart of his teaching, and the great image of the Trinity by Andrei Rublev was painted in honor of the monk with the blessing of Abbot Nikon.

The monk became the central spiritual figure of his time. In addition to the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, he founded a number of other monasteries — from the Annunciation Monastery on Kirzhach to Staro-Golutvin near Kolomna, Vysotsky and St. George on Klyazma. In addition, tradition attributes to him numerous miraculous healings, as well as the resurrection of a deceased child.

The monk died in 1392 and was buried in the Trinity Cathedral. In 1408, the monastery survived the devastation by the troops of Edigey, but was revived, and in 1422 the incorruptible relics of the saint were found. Since then, the lavra has remained one of the main centers of Orthodoxy and pilgrimage. In the following centuries, the monastery became the mainstay of the country more than once (Trinity Seat 1608-1610), and the spiritual "school of Sergius" through his students gave Russia dozens of monasteries and a generation of ascetics, securing for him the honorary title of "abbot of the Russian land."

Traditions of the national holiday Sergey Kapustnik, celebrated in Russia on October 8

In popular culture, the church date coincided with the economic cycle — on October 8, the first frosts began in Russia, and the peasants began to ferment cabbage. Hence the names of the holiday — Sergey-Kapustnik, Sergeyev day, Kapustnik.

The ancestors began the morning with a visit to the temple and a prayer to St. Sergius — for peace in the family, healing from ailments, prudence in business and in raising children. After that, they turned to "cabbage care" — the heads were carefully selected, shredded and placed in tubs. The whole family was supposed to work together, cheerfully and without quarrels, then, according to legend, the "sourdough" would turn out crispy and would be stored all winter.

Cabbage in Russia was valued not only as a basic food product, but also as a proven remedy for the "first-aid kit". The juice was used for stomach pains, and steamed leaves were applied to inflamed joints. Sauerkraut was endowed with special properties — it was considered a universal means of maintaining immunity.

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Each house kept its own inherited salting recipe, with subtle differences in slicing, amount of salt, and additives. Carrots, apples, cranberries or lingonberries were added to the cabbage, and a pinch of Thursday salt was thrown in as a talisman.

The housewives served cabbage pies, cabbage soup, and cabbage rolls on the table during the holiday. And before sunset, the cattle were treated to cabbage leaves. According to peasant belief, such "feeding" protected cows, pigs and horses from winter ailments and made the herd stronger.

On October 8, part of the poultry was slaughtered (for sale and a festive table), hence another name for the holiday — the Coop. Also, on St. Sergius Day, it was necessary to put the house in order and definitely go to the sauna to "wash away fatigue and unhappiness."

What not to do on Sergei Kapustnik's holiday on October 8th

Sergei Kapustnik was subject to a number of restrictions in Russia, the main prohibition was disputes and scandals. According to beliefs, those who ignored this rule often paid for their health and well-being. The year was successful for those who remained calm and composed.

What else you can't do on October 8th:

• to deny mercy — the day requires responsiveness, avarice can "close" the doors to one's own wealth and material well-being.;
• Returning and taking large amounts of money will lead to financial problems.;
• hurry up when salting cabbage — haste will make it tasteless, will attract troubles.

Folk signs for October 8th

St. Sergius Day served as a weather landmark for the ancestors at the end of October and was considered the transition to winter. The peasants believed that if snow fell on Sergei, then by St. Michael's Day — November 21 — real winter would set in.

• a southerly wind leads to a warm winter, a northerly wind leads to a cold one; a westerly wind leads to heavy snowfall, and an easterly wind leads to cold and slush;
• the first snow on Sergei — next summer will be favorable;
• a clear and warm day — good weather will remain until the end of October.

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